Court jails drink-driver after police pursuit

Ben Gundari reached speeds of 130km/h while trying to escape police this month.

Ben Gundari was already facing one drink-driving charge in court when he decided to try to outrun police to avoid another.

The Northern Territory-raised man took off on Weaber Plain Road on February 1 when police turned on their siren to signal him to pull over the Toyota Prado he was driving.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Andrea Hull told Kununurra Magistrate’s Court the next day how Gundari reached estimated speeds of more than 130km/h before tearing down a bush track as officers abandoned their pursuit.

Gundari was identified as the driver by another patrol car and he was later found inside a house, where the car had been parked outside, lying on a mattress.

He was taken to the police station and recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.114.

The incident occurred at a time when Gundari was already facing charges related to another drink-driving matter from November when he recorded a 0.121 reading while driving the same car.

He was also charged with driving with a suspended licence and for driving an unroadworthy vehicle, which had missing windows and other infractions.

Aboriginal Legal Service WA lawyer Melissa Bateman said in the November instance her client had brought the car to Kununurra from a station to be repaired.

“He was told by his mother he was to take it to a safe place for that night,” she said.

Ms Bateman said he accepted he shouldn’t have been driving after consuming alcohol and not having a licence.

She said Gundari did not remember why he was driving during the second incident.

Ms Bateman said Gundari started drinking alcohol at about the age of 16 and alcohol had always been a problem for him.

Magistrate Martin Flynn said the combination of alcohol and driving was seriously dangerous.

“You need to organise your life so you’re not tempted to drive,” he said.

Mr Flynn sentenced Gundari to one year in prison and fined him about $7500.